Sharks World Cup wrap

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In all six Sharks players took part in week two matches at the Rugby League World Cup, with Wade Graham scoring four tries and delivering a man-of-the-match performance in the Kangaroos win and Andrew Fifita in helping Tonga get the better of Pacific rivals Samoa the two standouts.

Five of the Sharks in action were on the winning side of the ledger, with only Ricky Leutele, despite performing strongly for Samoa in their loss to Tonga in his first appearance at this year’s World Cup.

Two players in James Maloney and Joseph Paulo failed to see any action, with Maloney pulling out of the Australian side due to personal reasons and Paulo not selected for Samoa.

For the Sharks involved it began on Friday with the 52-6 Kangaroo victory over France, with Graham unstoppable on the left edge for Australia, combining strongly with Josh Dugan as the pair caused their opposition plenty of headaches.

Late in the game Valentine Holmes delivered an enterprising cameo, scoring the final try of the game, with the trio of Sharks almost certain to be a part of Mal Meninga’s best-17 once the tournament enters the sudden-death stage.

Following on the Saturday in one of the most eagerly anticipated match-ups of the tournament, Tonga tackled Samoa with Fifita earning bragging rights over Sharks teammate Leutele.

Fifita ran for over 170 metres in the 32-18 Tongan win, however Leutele in the unfamiliar wing position was solid for Samoa as their top metre-gainer, his 14-carries accumulating 166-metres for his team.

Finally, in Sunday action James Segeyaro and his PNG team was made to fight all the way to the finish in beating Ireland 14-6.

Segeyaro came off the bench playing at hooker, with his attacking game in good order as he made 13 runs for 64 metres during his 45 minutes on the field.

The World Cup continues next week with New Zealand to face Tonga on Saturday afternoon at 3.00pm, Samoa to play Scotland, also on Saturday at 5.15pm. before the Kangaroos meet Lebanon at the Sydney Football Stadium in the late game at 8.00pm.